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Dear Jane Quilt Inspiration

Browse a collection of quilts made by students in Dear Jane classes at The City Quilter in New York City to get ideas for making your own version of Jane A. Stickle's 1863 quilt featured in the book Dear Jane by Brenda Manges Papadakis.

Make Your Own Dear Jane Quilt

Jane A. Stickle’s 1863 quilt has inspired quilters worldwide to create their own treasured versions ever since Brenda Manges Papadakis drafted the 169 square blocks, 52 pieced border triangles, and four pieced corner triangles and published them in the book Dear Jane: The Two Hundred Twenty-Five Patterns from the 1863 Jane A. Stickle Quilt (EZ Quilting by Wrights; 1996).

Diane Rode Schneck and Judy Doenias have been teaching Dear Jane classes at The City Quilter in New York City for 12 years. Their sample quilt, In Our Time, nicknamed “Technicolor Jane,” has inspired many of their students to make their own versions.

Showcase Fussy-Cut Designs

The quilt, which they began in 1999 and finished in 2005, also contains hidden surprises, such as a cat fussy-cut from a novelty print. Both Judy Doenias and Diane Rode Schneck stitched the square blocks; Judy assembled them. Diane constructed the triangles and did the quilting.

Choose Your Method

Some blocks of In Our Time are pieced, such as the orange and black triangle at the top of this photo. Others are hand-appliquéd, such as the red heart triangle block in the middle. The yellow and black triangle block at the bottom of the photo uses both techniques. There are no written instructions--only diagrams of drafted blocks--so quilters can choose the method that works best for them. Get tips and tricks for assembling blocks at dearjane.com.

Unify Blocks with a Favorite Print

For a cohesive look Emily Shuff Klainberg of New York City based the palette of Finished Before Barbara on a multicolor print that appears in many of the blocks. Emily gave the quilt its name because she completed her Dear Jane quilt before her twin sister, Barbara, finished hers.

Make Shapes Stand Out

Challenge a Fellow Quilter

Barbara Shuff Feinstein of Auburn, New York, named her version … But I Am a Goddess. Although she finished after her twin sister, Emily, she made all 52 triangle blocks in addition to the square blocks and corner blocks.

Experiment with Values of Color

Barbara Shuff Feinstein chose a range of blue and brown fabrics in varying values and styles—from plaids to batiks—to give her quilt depth and interest. Hints of red draw viewers’ eyes around the quilt.

Stick with a Two-Color Palette

Blue Sky, Sunshine by Anna Krassy contains Dear Jane blocks in the outer border. Anna arranged the yellow blocks in two adjacent borders of the quilt and the blue blocks in the remaining borders to enhance the ombré effect created by pieced strips in her quilt center.

Use Novelty Fabric to Make a Themed Quilt

Some quilters can’t get enough of Dear Jane. Pamela Leonard Wexler has made more than 30 Jane-inspired quilts. Each of her takes has a different theme. Jane Plays with Dolls makes use of a collection of doll-print novelty fabrics.

Give Dear Jane a Seasonal Spin

Jane’s Christmas Tree, another quilt by Pamela Leonard Wexler, shows how Dear Jane blocks can take on a seasonal look. Pamela arranged her dark and light blocks in rows to form a Christmas tree shape. The red and green blocks resemble ornaments and the beige blocks add subtle interest to the background. Pieced holly leaf blocks on either side of the red-and-green blocks add to the tree effect.

Try Hand Appliqué

Janalyn Martinez learned a new skill—hand appliqué—when she made Jane Taught Me How to Appliqué. She hand-appliquéd colorful shapes to black foundations rather than piecing the blocks. The small blocks make it easy to practice new techniques in manageable sessions.

Focus on the Triangle Blocks

Pamela Leonard Wexler focused on the 52 Dear Jane triangle blocks and the four corner blocks when creating Peridot and Periwinkle Blue Medallion. She surrounded a multicolor panel with 12 of the triangles and used the remaining ones for a border.

Use Small-Scale Prints

Make Blocks Appear to Be Set on Point

Woman in Transition by Leslie Morgan reveals how adding black sashing and four dark triangles around each Dear Jane block allows individual blocks to stand out. In this case they almost appear to be set on point.

Combine Dear Jane Blocks with Another Pattern

Pamela Leonard Wexler re-created Trail Mix by Mabeth Oxenreider from the June 2004 issue of American Patchwork & Quilting® magazine. She then surrounded the design with a border of dark blue Dear Jane blocks.

Use Vintage Textiles

Vintage lace takes center stage on Lady Jane, a wall hanging by Pamela Leonard Wexler. Pamela surrounded the lace with nine Dear Jane blocks and gave the quilt a scalloped edge similar to the original quilt.

Re-Imagine Dear Jane Blocks

Dear Jane blocks made in blue and white look like falling snow in Like Snowflakes, Every Dream is Different by Pamela Leonard Wexler. She enhanced the winter look by using a snowflake-theme print for the borders.

Get the Dear Jane Book

To make your own Dear Jane quilt, get your copy of Dear Jane: The Two Hundred Twenty-Five Patterns from the 1863 Jane A. Stickle Quilt (EZ Quilting by Wrights; 1996) by Brenda Manges Papadakis. The book contains drafted patterns for all blocks and letters written by Brenda to Jane. Purchase the book and learn more about Dear Jane at dearjane.com.